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To the bone vs To the bone of one’s back

to the bone

1. to the inmost part; completely:

  • She was English to the bone and so naturally loved puzzles and intellectual entertainments.

2. (coll., of prices) reduce as much as possible:

  • We’ve cut our prices to the bone, and still the public aren’t buying.

Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase close to the bone

1. tactless to the point of offensiveness:

  • a remark close to the bone; a joke close to the bone.

2. hard up; destitute:

  • He declined, in a family which was always living close to the bone, to take on any job.

to the backbone—(also: to the bone of one’s back) = to the bone 1:

  • Working-class to the backbone, just like us…. And if he’s been filling you up with a lot of toffee to the contrary, more fool you.